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Sunday, December 16, 2012

The 12 Days of Conference - Day Six

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference". Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

End it with a Shebango!

by Jessica Pettitt

After working for years as an event planner and now as a
speaker and facilitator I gotta share a secret.
Conference attendees don’t usually think about the months of hard work
that go into planning an event. An event
is more than a theme, a list of programs, and meals at a good venue. The secret though, is that on the last day of
the event, the planning team are often stressed, underfed, and lacking
sleep. The final speaker takes the stage
and there is an exhale – it is over – we did it – yeah! We get to sleep again soon. However, this is a big mistake – I mean you
do get to sleep soon, but don’t miss the opportunity to end your event the best
way possible!

The final program of a conference is an often overlooked
opportunity for the planning committee – not on purpose necessarily – but
overlooked nonetheless… Here are a few things you can do to wrap up your event
with not just a bang, but a SHEBANGO!

A few ways to determine if a conference has ended with a
SheBang…

There
is a distinct difference in your posture and attitude

You
have multiple dates set up to continue conversations with folks from the
event

Next
year’s event is already in your calendar

Participants
have a list of folks to encourage attending the next event and renewing
their membership

Meeting
Planners and Event Committee look like superheroes to attendees!

Conference
mishaps are overlooked and the theme is restated over and over again

The closing speaker’s job is to make attendees feel good or
better yet, inspired. Once motivated,
participants head out the door and back to reality where they quickly forget
what they just learned, who they just met, and why they are part of the
association. This isn't a blame worthy
element of event planning – just happens.
Ideally, events should end in the exact opposite way – and it doesn't even cost more money!

As a closing speaker, it is my job to make the meeting
planner and committee look AMAZING, assist all attendees in really
internalizing everything they just learned and apply it to their regular lives,
support participants’ new network of contacts, and block their schedules with
the next event’s dates. Moreover, an
event attendee is the best marketing tool for the next event, and also for the
organization itself. Ending with a
SHEBANGO increases member retention and recruitment and makes all of the hard
work to plan, present, and share worth it.

It is a HUGE responsibility to smooth over the unexpected
happenings at an event, be it fire alarms, broken elevators, rubber chicken, or
presenters who don’t deliver, threading together the mission and vision of the
hosting organization and event theme, and inspiring attendees to take the
messages home. Lastly, motivating the
participants long after the event to support the organization throughout the
year and bring in new faces, information, and maybe even serve on the next
planning team. That is ending it right –
with a SHEBANGO!

Jessica Pettitt stirs up conversations using humor and history. Get the Whole Shebango! at www.SheBango.com, email endwith@SheBango.com, or call 917-543-0966.

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"We often seal in stone our opinions of others far too quickly. In this superficial society we can hardly know the whole person by a causal encounter. We have to invest in people to really know them. Give people a chance (and often a second chance) and you will have sweeter relationships and countless opportunities." - Thom Singer